1956 Raleigh Dealer Book

Back in June, for my birthday present, my Dad finally handed down his 70s Raleigh. We think it’s a ‘74 but, he can’t pinpoint it.

It’s taken a good 3+ years for him to hand this bad girl down to me (not pictured here). One time, a couple years back, he had finally came to reason and agreed to let me take the reins of the steed and my Mom chirped in and because she “wasn’t ready to see it go yet” I had to wait patiently a year or so longer. And well, I’m okay with that statement but, let’s be real Mom, by end of the bike’s time with you it was being treated like Sloth. The thing sat in the garage for years, hadn’t seen the streets much since I last rode it years ago. I didn’t really buy that as a justifiable reason to not pass down this Sattler legacy. Tales of being ridden from the mean streets of Copely, OH to the edge of Lake Erie and illegally being transported to Canada aside, it was time to let go.

Then one day, back in May before my Dad’s birthday, Mom called with a special request to ship back a favored family Webster’s dictionary that was given to me by her on my departure to Orlando for college. This is where I saw my opportunity to barter. If it was a dictionary she wanted, it was a bike that she was gonna have to let go. (Hey, who said deals are always easy or clean, even if it is your Mom and your trading one of your Dad’s cherished possessions for another.)

Let it go they did. Apparently after discussions around the round table (kitchen) a few hours before the trade deadline it was decided that it was time to make this deal. 3 boxes showed up to my desk-step on June 12th, 2009. Partially disassembled and meticulously packed in custom boxes (I’ve been told they took hours to make), the bike has finally been passed down a generation. From one witty, slightly-good lookin’ Sattler man to another witty, slightly-better lookin’ Sattler man. After inspections from team doctors, the trade had been finalized.

I now have one of the beloved Sattler legacies sitting in my apartment, ready to be worked on and restored to her glory. Then I will be able to build my own tales of illegal border crossing and long distance treks too. And one day hopefully be able to pass down this 2nd generation heirloom to my offspring or dog.

As sit you sit there bored, you ask yourself what does any of this bullshit have to do with graphic design or the such. I direct your attention to this amazingly illustrated Raleigh 1956 Dealer’s Reference Book on Flickr from Stronglight. If you’re itchin’ for more classic Raleigh, be sure to carouse this section of the internet.

Comments

I’m glad you have it now. I was reminded often this last weekend that memories are meant to be shared. Please go out and make some of your own and pass them down with the bike when the time is is right.